Amphelise had reached peak emptiness.
A state in which judgement means nothing, and death is merely an option. A possibility. Life is a long line that can be cut and the actions that happen during this life are unconsequential. No regards, no matters, no goal no aim in life. Such was the sacrifice to not be a Cardinal anymore.
Konstantin had analyzed her condition and left, silently, glancing back occasionally.
Amphelise did not even feel any relief. She didn't even feel any threat in the first place. So outside, Konstantin released his anger on every lifeform he could find.
At the university, Grid and Influenza hid in the undergroud part of the building. They remained there for hours until one by one the doors, metallic or else, eventually yielded. Breaking in a loud crash in the distance.
That distance shortened.
The final door exploded and Konstantin walked through, unscathed.
"Are you one of them?"
"Am I one of them? Retard, I am them."
"We're not Cardinals."
"No. But you could be. In the future. Let this be a friendly reminder that Lunatics don't play with our food, we eat it."
"Understood."
"Don't try to hurt them, not in any way shape or form. I enjoy hunting my preys."
"Got it. We won't interfere."
"Good. What's your name?"
"Grid. And this is Influenza."
"Something about you, young lower lifeform. I think I hate the thing that's in your fucking veins."
"Helios recently poured some of his Nephilim blood in my body."
"Oh, really? You don't hear that every day. Listen up. I'll offer you a deal. Nice place for you both in the name of our God if you kill the last Daughter of Mars. She's here. The other one is doomed."
"They're both marked by the Circle of Anaïs, so we would have to kill her millions of time."
"Capucine is in the Labyrinth, she won't die once but suffer eternal stress and fear. And besides, the second she was sent off, the Circle stopped working on her."
"So that leaves only Melisa...we'll work on that."
"Good."
Konstantin left as casually as he arrived. Grid held on to Influenza, trying to think of a way to kill her in a definitive manner.
On the side of Cankt, Ismael and the Bringer had tried to approach the castle's entrance. Cankt knew she was enough to guard the place by herself, yet still called out to another one.
"Do you need approval that bad?"
"Bringer. You do realize us Lunatics are limitless."
"Then why call for more?"
"Because I might be busy killing these Cressenie people the entire night."
"There's no sun in this part of Perseus."
"Then it will be a long night."
"Cankt. Who did you call?"
"The man with the disorder."
"Ismael, while I "fight" her, run into the castle and hide."
The Bringer positionned his hand towards her and contracted her body, any second it was modified in any way, she would automatically put it back together. She approached him and he stepped back, keeping distance.
"Why are you afraid, Bringer? Can't we just kill her?"
"You could try a million years within a million lives. You would not scratch her. Not one bit. Ever. They're here to kill the Cardinals, and that includes you."
"Correct. I am not here to kill you, Bringer. But collateral damages are a possibility if you truly wish to intervene."
"What if Nara shows up?"
"Do not try to lie to me, Nephilim. I know you're stronger than him."
"That's very flattering, Cankt. When will Tami arrive?"
"When he chooses to. He does not like to be ordered anything."
"Can we arrange something? Ismael has to become a Nephilim. After that, he won't be a Cardinal anymore."
"I won't be a Cardinal? Just like that? I thought this sacrifice would follow me forever. Or at the very least until my definitive death. I'll make it regardless."
"Young Ismael. For the context of both your birth and your childhood, I offer you a chance. A chance to run before I catch you. Go. Go be a Nephilim for all I care. But you have an hour, no more no less. After that, I will repetitively kill you until you stop spawning."
"Thank you, Cankt."
The two of them ran into the gates as the rest of the group showed their anger at her.
"Why letting them run away? Ismael is a horrible thing."
"You are mistaken, June. He is not a horrible thing nor a horrible person. He is redeemable."
"He is just not, I know it, I can tell he is not. Under what authority do you forgive him?"
"God's."
"And when he obtains a higher power that allows him to kill and kill?"
"Then what will you do, young June? Complain or pray?"
"Excuse me? I was thrown into this, mainly by him."
"Perseus teaches lessons. What did you learn?"
"I've learned that I can't trust anybody. That all we are ends up dying and nothing matters."
"For such a young age, to think this way. For I am the only one of the Lunatics to be able to take initiatives, I will recommend you to the higher ups to be one of the three. So you can see for yourself that you are also not different. Power doesn't change people it shows to the world who you really were all this time."
"One of the three?"
"Yes, the Triad. They live their lives unbothered, supposedly, from the rest of the world. You would not see the situation the same given this power."
"Given this opportunity, you think I would also lose myself in a rage of fury?"
"Something akin to this, yes."
"I see. Would you bet on it?"
"I don't bet. I know. I can see the heavy disturbance in your depraved, corrupted soul. And we would need to quantify your madness and actions. But for the matter of order, I would want you to fill in for this place. Efalis the lost kid. Loovis the old king. And Anaïs the unstable witch. Efalis is long gone, and does not hold for the title any longer. Loovis is dead. Only Anaïs remains, keeping you all alive. The decision is yours, June."
"I'll take it."